Chapter 15: True test of our coordination.

It's about time for them to drag in another opponent. I wonder what they will show up with this time? As I think that. On que, they show up with a large wiggling bag. "You will be fighting one opponent today, and that is the Dynastes Tityus. I expect great things out of the two of you."

As he begins to release the bug out of the bag, Me and Myself, or should I say I and me, or me and I. Anyway, we prepared a lotus stance. I think to myself why not train up my southpaw while I'm at it, so I have my clone ready in the other stance. As soon as the bug is released we go charging in with our petal shift and water ripples we move in a pincer motion mirroring each other for our first strike but notice the beast has turned its attention to one of us shifting like Petals in the Wind we stutter our steps and shift formation to match each other aiming for an attack on the sides of the beast. Avoiding a charge attack we both go in for an attack landing on each side of the beast a cross to a jab. From there we Moonlit Retreat out of its range of attack just as it begins to spin its body abruptly at us. Taking on the first form of our martial arts we lunge in for another attack this time hitting the opposite sides of the beast that we hit before. However this enrages the beetle. Causing it to abruptly throw itself at my clone, doing a side swipe with its large body. Not missing a step I move in using Calm Pond Glide into the third form of fungal arts. Landing a blow on its carapace I begin to see it leaving an impact. This beetle carapace is tougher than anything we've fought up till now. While distracted it turns to me and jabs me with its horns into my guts severing a piece of my Mental gland, making it tougher to translate somethings from the other side, I can tell that he used his regenerative abilities so I follow suit. That was a close one. We have to stop taking damage from this thing. I quickly on both sides began to utilize the Lotus Embrace part of the footwork. I'm looking for an opening. Trying to evade it as it charges at me I barely out maneuver the bug with the main body. And the subbody follows suit charging in using the fourth through sixth form of his martial arts on the beast breaking the carapace open and cracking its elytra exposing its wing. Good job me. I shifted into the Calm Pond Glide technique, a sub-style of their martial arts that emphasizes evasion and fluid movement. With remarkable grace, he avoids the beetle's strike. My clone decides to employ the Lotus Embrace, a component of the footwork technique. This technique focuses on finding openings in the opponent's defense and positioning for the perfect strike. We coordinate our movements perfectly, with the main body skillfully maneuvering to evade the charging beetle while his clone charges in. The clone employs the fourth through sixth forms of its martial arts, targeting the beetle's weak points. As coordinated movements culminate in a devastating attack, the beetle's carapace shatters, revealing its vulnerable interior. Together, we exploit this opening, delivering precise blows that incapacitate the creature. With its guts spilling out and its life extinguished, the beetle meets its demise.

[You have defeated a Level 2 Adolescent Dynastes Tityus.]

[You have gained XP.]

[You have reached Level 2. One skill point awarded.]

[Silent Lotus Dance has reached Level 2.]

My clone received similar messages. It looks like we don't share exp or levels. That's interesting.

It also looks like this beetle was no match for me. They must have underestimated me or couldn't find any more bugs. Master Shikan walks up to the monster pulling out a small core. Oh this one was built with a core that explains why they only brought one. "This is a monster core, it's why those filthy humans fight over us. I've heard there are those who could reconstruct an entire army from a bag full, as well as some who can reinforce their own core from them. You want to give it a shot?" As he hands me the monster core a system menu pops up.

[Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute the monster?]

I reinforce my core with it. In front of my eyes it begins to disassemble into tiny particles and mana swooping through the air and into my body. To be more precise it went through my whole body then into my core.

To Master Shikans surprise "Incredible! I find myself at a loss for words. Your mastery over this power, this unprecedented phenomenon, is nothing short of extraordinary. It has shattered the boundaries of what we thought possible. This is a moment of profound wonder, most creatures can only enhance their core through the ichor of mana itself, which is nowhere as fast as what you just accomplished." 

That concluded today's training, Master Shikan waves us off for free time. Which I plan to spend at the meditation pool. Obviously I use Cell Harvest and Regenerative Growth! I send parts of my arms and legs into the pit while my clone sends in parts of its cap and body down. I faintly am able to establish a connection with the pit monster. It looks like my comfortable limit is two but I can flicker between the two of them with my mind bridge but it is very taxing to my mind. The clone in the pit does Cell Absorption and Regenerative Growth allowing for it to be my size. It looks like it needs a little more, but a sudden Idea comes to mind. Why don't I send this one out in the middle of the night to find more exp. That way I can buy more skills. With its mind intact I tell the pit monster to grow an eye. Which he does. I'm sending you a gift, which was what the postcusarary thought too. "I'm going to get that dang navigator ability, and I need a map." Respectfully in backwards order. Seeing as how I'm thinking too fast about something else, what was it again… oh yeah I have no idea how to transfer my abilities.